Nationals' Werth undergoes wrist surgery

WASHINGTON, May 7 (UPI) -- Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth has been shelved indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a broken wrist, the team said Monday.

Officials said the procedure was performed by Dr. Richard Berger at the Mayo Clinic.

Werth hurt his wrist while attempting to make a diving catch in the outfield during the Philadelphia Phillies' 9-3 win over Washington Sunday.

The team didn't say how long Werth would be out, but breaks of that type usually take 10-to-12 weeks to fully heal. Werth is to begin strengthening exercises in about six weeks and Nationals Manager Davey Johnson said Werth would probably be out for months, The Washington Post reported.

The Nationals outfielder broke the same wrist in 2005, during a spring training game when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005. He was hit by a pitch from A.J. Burnett and was able to play during the season but underwent surgery and sat out the entire 2006 season due to injuries.

He told the Post in an e-mail Phillies fans at Nationals Stadium taunted him as he left the field in pain.

"After walking off the field feeling nauseous knowing my wrist was broke and hearing Philly fans yelling 'You deserve it,' and, 'That's what you get,' I am motivated to get back quickly and see to it personally those people never walk down Broad Street in celebration again," he wrote.

The Nationals signed Werth to a seven-year deal worth $126 million in December 2010.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.